Chilly Temperatures Slow Pollen Season

Typical Spring like temperatures are arriving late in the bluegrass. That could impact the timeline for allergy sufferers this year. Beth Miller, Chair of UK’s Division of Allergy-Immunology, says last year’s early warmth followed by a freeze cut short the tree pollen season. She says a late start for warmer temperatures could mean a longer life for tree pollen. “If we want a good pollen season as far as high pollen counts, better to have a late start with a continued warm trend than have a cold spell in the middle of the spring,” said Miller.

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Miller says tree pollen counts will begin next week. Still, when considering the past several years, She says it’s hard to find any certain trend.

“I really can’t say the counts are higher than they have been in the past. I don’t think that’s the trend. I think the trend is it could be bad if the weather cooperates. And it’s all dependent on the weather,” added Miller.

Miller says the treatment methods for allergy sufferers haven’t changed much in recent years. She says it begins with avoiding pollens, then medications, and finally allergy shots.